The police have said they are sure that the elderly couple, found dead in their Andheri residence on Monday night, was killed by their elder son.

The police have said they are sure that the elderly couple, found dead in their Andheri residence on Monday night, was killed by their elder son.

“Based on forensic and medical evidence it has been confirmed that Moiz killed his parents. The couple died due to strangulation,” said investigating officer Mohan Waghmare, police inspector of MIDC police station.

The bodies of Nooruddin Tajmal Bharmal, 87, and his wife Zubeida, 83, were found in a highly decomposed state in their house on the first floor of Manish Apartment in Andheri (East). The murder was committed at least three days before the bodies were found, police said.

The police had also found a note in the apartment, apparently written by Moiz, which said, “I am fed up of being unemployed and dependent, which is why I am taking this drastic step.”

The couple’s younger son, Abbas, who lives in Canada, and daughter, who is married and lives in Chennai, came to the city on Tuesday and claimed the bodies. The last rites were performed on Wednesday, said the police.

The police said Moiz had also mentioned in the note that his relationship with his parents was strained, calling them “mean and spiteful.” His siblings, however, denied this.

In fact, they said that their parents felt safe living with Moiz, given the rising incidents of crime against senior citizens. “My mom always said that they felt safe and protected since Moiz was always around,” said the couple’s daughter.

Three search teams have been formed to trace Moiz. “His note indicates that he was planning to commit suicide. We are looking for him on railway stations, tracks and city hospitals too,” said Waghmare.

The police said Moiz, who once worked in Muscat as a Design Mechanical engineer, became mentally disturbed after his wife’s death around 10 years ago. He stayed with his parents in Mumbai, tried his luck with a few jobs, which did not work out. He was unemployed and was dependent on the money sent by his brother.

Moiz’s son, however, was working in a call centre and earning well. “The problem was not the money, but the fact that Moiz felt he was dependent,” said Waghmare.

The police will now be recording statements of Moiz’s siblings to understand what could have led him to take such a drastic step.